Saturday, March 26, 2011

Singapore Series: Going to Singapore via Diosdado Macapagal International Airport



The night before our trip, I freaked out upon seeing the website of Philtranco that the earliest bus to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) was at 12:00 noon. Our flight (CLRK-SIN) via Cebu Pacific was at 12:10 pm and we should be there at least 2 hours before. I searched the net to find an alternative way to reach DMIA and saw some complicated means of doing so. Like some wrote you have to take a bus to Baguio or Pangasinan and alight at Dau Bus Terminal. From there, take a jeep to SM Clark and alight at the jeepney station before reaching the mall. There are airport shuttles from there that costs about Php 200 per trip. Some posts are actually outdated and inconsistent.
As I am bringing my daughter with us on this trip, I want a hassle-free means of going to DMIA as much as possible. So I kept my fingers crossed that there is still a Philtranco bus to take us there early in the morning. I searched my FB account and saw that Philtranco,too has an account so I dropped them an inquiry on their earliest trip schedule. Luckily, as late as 11pm, someone is still manning their FB account and answered my post that they have a 6:30 am trip from Pasay. Hurrah! Now I can have a sound sleep.
The next morning, we left the house at 5:30 am. A cab from Zobel Roxas in Manila to Philtranco terminal in Pasay costs around Php 120. We bought tickets to DMIA which costs Php 350. This is also the bus that will stop at the back of SM Megamall.
The bus is nothing special, just a usual aircon bus. What’s special is that it only took an hour and a half to reach DMIA. So when we arrived at DMIA, it is still closed as it opens at 9:00 am.
DMIA is known to house budget airlines like Tiger Airways, Air Asia, Cebu Pacific, etc. Terminal Fee in DMIA is Php 600. Flights from DMIA to Singapore takes about 3 hours.

Tips:
1. Make sure to catch the Philtranco bus from Pasay or Megamall to have a hassle-free transfer to DMIA. It does not only saves time but also money.
2. If you do not have check-in baggage allocation, do not bring folded umbrellas and canned goods, unless you are willing to leave it t o the guards at DMIA, for good.
3. If you are travelling with an infant, make sure you already have a Travel Tax Exemption Certificate from PTA. Click here to learn how to get a TEC.

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